River and ocean cruise experiences for 2027

With a new river ship on the horizon, brand new itineraries and all the excitement of Saga Cruises’ 30th anniversary, 2027 promises to be a truly memorable year. Here’s a first glimpse of what’s in store.

by Sue Bryant

Spring Cruising

Spring sees the beginning of the river cruise season in Europe. It’s a time when the Dutch bulb fields burst into bloom, creating swathes of colour across the countryside. We have introduced two new Dutch Waterways itineraries for 2027: A Taste of the Netherlands; and Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Rhine – and for a New Year celebration with guaranteed tickets to Andre Rieu, there is a sailing on 3 Jan 2028, New Year with Andre Rieu. Meanwhile the regular springtime cruises give you a chance marvel at the vivid splendour of Keukenhof Gardens further into spring with Keukenhof Gardens and Highlights of Holland and Dutch Cities and Keukenhof Gardens.

Early spring is the perfect time to explore the cities of the Netherlands, too, with a new, culture-focused mini break, A Taste of the Netherlands. Spirit of the Rhine takes you effortlessly over five nights to some very contrasting cities – modern, arty Rotterdam; historic Dordrecht and Utrecht; and the vibrant Dutch capital, Amsterdam.

Spring will be a time for celebrations on our ocean cruises, too, as the company marks 30 years of exploring the world. Spirit of Discovery will embark on a 12-night 30th Anniversary Cruise around the UK delving into maritime history, with optional highlights including a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Spirit of Adventure, meanwhile, will set sail from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean on a 21-night voyage all the way to the heel of Italy, where you can join an optional excursion from Brindisi to visit the enchanting trulli houses of Alberobello. There are calls, too, at the magnificent Croatian ports of Split and Dubrovnik.

As the spring evenings get longer and lighter, it’s time to head north to Norway’s serenely beautiful fjords, or perhaps embark on a cruise to explore the British Isles, both popular itineraries among guests. Or try something different: new for 2027 is Spirit of Discovery’s immersive 14-night Seven Countries of Northern Europe cruise. You’ll visit Gothenburg, historic Gdansk, Klaipeda in Lithuania, as well as Riga, fairytale Tallinn, cool Copenhagen, arty Skagen, and traditional Kristiansand.

Summer Cruising

Summer brings exciting news for river cruise lovers: in July, the boutique Spirit of the Lorelei joins our European river cruise fleet. The ship takes her name from the famous Lorelei Rock in the dramatic Upper Middle Rhine Valley, steeped in myth and romantic legend. It’s only fitting, then, that one of her first voyages will sail through the Rhine Gorge, passing the Lorelei Rock itself, before the new ship heads to the Danube for her maiden season.

If you’re considering a Danube cruise, why not add a few days to your holiday with a city stay in Prague? The Czech capital is a new addition to our portfolio of cruise-and-stay options in addition to Vienna, Budapest and Lisbon. Prague is surely one of the most beautiful European capitals with its Gothic spires, historic old town and the 15th-century Charles Bridge.

Another new river cruise for summer 2027 is the 14-night Grand Voyage of the Rhine, Main and Danube in July, on which Spirit of the Danube and will sail from Budapest to Koblenz via enchanting ports including Vienna, Dürnstein (famed for its 12th-century castle in which Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned), Regensburg, Bamberg, Würzburg (with its opulent Residence palace) and medieval Miltenberg. On our new ship Spirit of the Lorelei the Rhine, Main and Danube Explorer sails from Koblenz to Budapest and visits the charming Austrian city of Melk.

Perhaps you’re considering your first ocean cruise, in which case, a shorter, six or seven-night voyage close to home is ideal. You’ll see that travelling by ship gives you an entirely different perspective on our beautiful coastline. Spirit of Discovery’s six-night Isles of Scilly and Celtic Sea Escape delves into Falmouth’s maritime heritage; the lush, subtropical flora of Tresco Abbey Garden; and in Cork, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the mouthwatering displays in the English Market. If you’re an astronomy enthusiast, meanwhile, the thrill of a lifetime awaits on Spirit of Adventure’s Portuguese Gems and the Solar Eclipse cruise, setting sail on 25 July in time for the ship to be positioned off the coast of Morocco to witness the spectacular phenomenon of a total eclipse of the sun, in which you’ll experience the otherworldly sensation of night appearing to fall in the middle of the day. Calls on this 16-night adventure include Porto, Madeira, Gibraltar, Lisbon and La Coruña.

Also new for summer will be a thrilling Greenland and Iceland Adventure. Spirit of Adventure will explore Iceland, a landscape of fiery volcanoes and vast glaciers, and the remote Faroe Islands as well as three ports in Greenland. The coast here is starkly beautiful, with towering, slow-drifting icebergs guarding intricate fjord systems and colourful villages.

Autumn Cruising

Autumn is a good time to explore Europe, whether you’re cruising the Greek Islands, where the sea is still warm for swimming, or heading to the volcanic, sub-tropical Canaries, bathed in sunshine year-round. Our two ocean-going ships sail to both regions but you could also venture further afield on Spirit of Discovery’s new, 30-night Impressions of Canada cruise. You’ll sail round-trip from Portsmouth, with calls including historic Quebec City, buzzing Halifax and pretty Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, as well as scenic sailing along the narrow Saguenay Fjord. Along Europe’s rivers, September is the month of the wine harvest. You could explore northern Portugal on the Douro Serenity, sailing along the “River of Gold” where immaculate vineyards snake around the contours of the hills, the leaves on the vines turning golden in autumn.

Or catch the wine harvest in riverside towns along the Rhine and Moselle. Our Rhine and Moselle Explorer itinerary between Mainz and Koblenz operates right through to October and visits two of the prettiest wine-growing towns in the region, Boppard and Cochem.

Late summer could be the perfect time for a short river cruise, too. Our Taste of the Rhine itinerary on Spirit of the Moselle takes you over five nights from Mainz to quaint Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne.

Winter Cruising

Nobody could fail to be enchanted by the Christmas markets along the Rhine, Danube and the Dutch waterways, the aroma of sizzling sausages and mulled wine in the frosty air, choirs singing and pretty wooden stalls selling festive gifts.

But don’t just make a flying visit; why not enjoy the conviviality of Christmas itself on Spirit of the Rhine as she glides along the Rhine and Main rivers? You’ll visit the markets in Düsseldorf and Bonn and enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner on board, the ship beautifully decked out for the festive season. Walking tours of Koblenz, Heidelberg, Cologne, Mainz and Arnhem are included, as well as visits to Rüdesheim, Frankfurt and the medieval heart of Strasbourg.

Spirit of the Moselle also celebrates the festive season in sparkling style on a 14-night cruise along the Rhine and Dutch Waterways. Along the way, sail the canals of medieval Strasbourg, stroll through Heidelberg’s old town and take an evening cruise along the historic canals of Amsterdam to admire the art installations of the yearly Amsterdam Light Festival. Or take a shorter, pre-Christmas cruise from Nijmegen to Utrecht with a very special evening in Maastricht, where André Rieu, the “King of the Waltz”, will conduct his orchestra in a festive extravaganza at the MECC Maastricht Arena. You can see Rieu conduct his Johann Strauss Orchestra in Amsterdam, too, on Spirit of the Rhine’s seven-night New Year with André Rieu cruise; the perfect way to start 2028.

Find out more about ocean and river cruises with Saga.